We are a mighty nation - ask Germany back in the 1920s and '40s - but we are not on the same plane on the pitch with the nation that made the great David Hasselhoff an international treasure.

Bottom line: If US/Germany ends in a tie on the pitch, both teams advance out of the Group of Death. With that reality, it's time for the US to send a text, memo, message in bottle, courier pigeon or singing telegram with these two words:

"Marshall. Plan".

After the Allied Forces destroyed the living hell out of Nazi Germany, and accepted unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945, Germany was worse off than when it signed the Treaty of Versailles in 1921, to end World War I.

That "agreement" between the U.S. and Germans sent the losing team into an even deeper recession with a series of debts and bills it could not possibly repay; it eventually paved the path for Hitler, and World War II.

When the Germans lost WWII, U.S. President Harry S. Truman wanted no part of another sequel. Truman set in motion a comprehensive, and massive, rebuild of central Europe, including Germany.

Truman named U.S. general George Marshall his secretary of state, who in turn devised the "Marshall Plan" - a detailed plan to rebuild Europe. It was called the European Recovery Program, but it known as the Marshall Plan. Truman wanted to stability in Western Europe, and there was no better way than to give those war-crushed nations an economic lift.

The Marshall Plan went into effect in early 1947, and between 1948 and 1952 the Western European nations that for roughly a decade were in the middle of war were rebuilt, and rebranded.

There is nothing the Germans can do to adequately thank the Americans for the giant check we granted more than 60 years ago, and for the U.S. saying, "We're good" after the war.

A tie in the World Cup tomorrow would just be a solid way of saying thanks for The Marshall Plan.

06/11/2014

FRISCO, Texas - Having been called a "Know it All" and pretentious wind bag who think he knows everything, it is with great sadness and humility to have to find an expert. Alas, the World Cup and futbol is not The Big Mac Blog's forte.

In an effort to satiate and enlighten the masses and the soccer ignorant, my travels took me to Frisco, Texas and FC Dallas to find a pair of experts to talk #WorldCup.

Expert No. 1: FC Dallas midfielder Peter LuccinCredentials: He's 35. From France, and he has extensive international experience. He also speaks French

Expert No. 2: FC Dallas defender Stephen KeelCredentials: He is 31, from Colorado, is a pro, and has extensive experience in the US system.

Who will win? Luccin: Brazil. They are at home. They have a very good team, and they have a player like Oscar. I think this year they have to win. They are playing at home. All of the people are waiting for this World Cup.I have two favorite teams - Brazil and Spain, again. Spain is Spain. I prefer Brazil.

Keel: If I was a betting man, Brazil playing at home. I don't think a European team has won outside of the continent. Unless something catastrophic happens, it's Brazil, I'll say Brazil over USA in the Finals, 1-0.

The head coach of the USMNT, Jurgen Klinsmann, said it's unrealistic for the U.S. to win the World Cup. Do you agree?Keel: It's the U.S. mentality of us against the world. I know there is a lot of focus on who is not there, but there should be more focus on who is there. The more people doubt the U.S. team and the team does bond together and you have seen that in years past that the U.S. is capable of making noise in the World Cup.I expect us to get out of the group.

What about England, France or Italy?Luccin: Those teams can go far in the World Cup but it's going to be hard. France is a new team with new players. They are young players. I don't know if France is ready.England, every time same thing. We are waiting for the selection of this team. Me? I'm disappointed in the defense from England.

Where is the U.S. in relation to breaking into the higher echeleon of teams?Luccin: It's hard because the U.S. does not have too many players playing in Europe. Those are the best players with the best leagues in the world. I'm sorry, for this World Cup, I don't think the U.S. will get to the next round.

In the U.S.' group, which is the best team?Luccin: For me, Germany is the best and Portugal is the second best. It's the hard group for the USA. I don't know if the U.S. can win one game.

Are the U.S. fans' expectations of this team, we're here that's good enough?Keel: Now we are expected to qualify for the World Cup. The expectations are rising; it's not just good enough to get in. Now it's getting to the point where we expect to get out of the group stage. Have we gotten to the point where we should get to the semis and finals? No. But we are trending to that.

12/06/2013

Because we are in the time of giving, and the United States needs money, the men's national soccer team is better off accepting a bribe gift from Qatar rather than appear in the 2014 World Cup. Seriously - Qatar is busy spending billions on its World Cup event, so why not just sell the '14 invite to the Qatar team for a few hundred million?

I don't even know anything about futbol soccer to know that this thing is done. We as a nation did a horrible job in our "donations" this holiday season to FIFA, an organization that loves under-the-table-money more than Congress.

The U.S. is in the "Group of Death", which is now known as "We Hate Americans."

Group GGermanyPortugalGhanaUSA

Reaching the Round of 16? Most of us will be thrilled if the U.S. makes it to the second half of its opening match on the pitch.

The U.S. will open with Ghana.

As crushing as it is to see the US of A handed this wretched draw, it's always great to watch a little nil-nil World Cup action, mostly for the utter druken chaos that ensues this event.